My Arsenal Blog

Having completed a highly successful transfer window this winter, Arsenal are said to be preparing a summer plan that will see them continue to build upon the existing squad in order to create a team capable of competing for major honours next season.

The arrival of chief scout Sven Mislintant from Borussia Dortmund has seen Arsenal take a U-turn on their transfer philosophy and Gunners are once again imposing themselves as an attractive destination for world-class footballers, while they simultaneously attempt to round some of Europe’s most emerging talents.  .......Read more here.....

Portuguese media claim that north London club Arsenal continue to monitor Benfica winger Andrija Zivkovic.

The Serbian starlet has attracted plenty of interest from a host of European clubs this season despite the fact he is still not a standard first-team regular with the Eagles from Lisbon.

Arsenal emissaries have been spotted in Portugal, keeping a close tab on the pacey winger who last appeared for Benfica in a Taca Da Liga game against Portimorense. Zivkovic started the match but was substituted three minutes after the hour-mark.  .......Read more here.....

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott scored twice in the Gunners 5-2 victory over Benfica on Saturday in the Emirates Cup. Walcott should be in prime, but last season he struggled to find any consistency, which is nothing new for the England international.

Walcott scored ten times in the Premier League in 28 appearances (23 starts and five substitute appearances). That tally is a decent one for a winger in the English top-flight.

However, there was still a sense that he could have done more and there is still much more to come from the winger. I feel a sense of déjà vu when talking about the winger, as I seem to ask the title question every summer and nothing changes.  .......Read more here.....

Premier League club Arsenal are believed to be considering adding a couple of players during the January transfer window in order to improve their chances of getting back into the Premier League title race.

According to various media reports, Arsene Wenger is looking for defensive and midfield reinforcements with several names already being thrown into the mix.

Arsenal are believed to be keeping close tabs on Benfica forward Goncalo Cuedes and British media are reporting that the Gunners even sent one of their top scouts to watch the 20-year-old talent in action against Rio Ave on Wednesday.  .......Read more here.....

Young Benfica striker Diogo Goncalves has come under the radar of the London-based club according to reports from Portugal daily Ojogo.

It is reported that Arsene Wenger is a keen admirer of the 19-year-old Portugal international, who was first recommended by French former Arsenal defender Gilles Grimandi, a scout for the Premier League club.

Grimandi watched Goncalves in the European U19 Championship, where young Benfica striker played in No. 10 role putting in some widely impressive performances at the competition last season.

Portuguese scout and Premier League forward, Luis Boa Morte, has since then continued to monitor Goncalves’ progress, while sending nothing but positive reports to Arsene Wenger.  .......Read more here.....

According to the Daily Express, Arsenal are in a transfer battle with Premier League rivals Manchester City and Liverpool to sign Benfica’s highly-rated teenage midfielder Renato Sanches, who the Eagles are reportedly willing to sell for around £47million.

Sanches is just 18-year-old and only made his Benfica debut in October, but he is already being talked about as a future superstar. The attacking midfielder has made 17 senior appearances for Benfica, including two in the Champions League.

He is reportedly also on the radar of Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. Arsenal are well equipped for attacking midfielders, but Sanches can play as a central midfielder alongside a holding midfield player.  .......Read more here.....

According to the Metro, Arsenal are set to agree a deal to sign talented young Portuguese ‘keeper Joao Virginia from Benfica. He reports from Portugal claim that Virginia has agreed to sign a four-year deal with the north London club.

The youngster had previously been linked with a move to Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Manchester United, having already enjoyed a trial at Old Trafford.

Virginia is reported to be one of the most promising young ‘keepers in European football. The Gunners already have two international ‘keepers in Petr Cech and David Ospina, but obviously see Virginia as a potential star of the future.  .......Read more here.....

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has come under intense criticism from Joel Campbell’s agent Joaquim Batica, who has spoken to ‘O Jogo‘ about his disappoint of failing to push through a deadline day transfer for his client to Benfica.

Reports had suggested the two clubs were £1.6M away from agreeing terms, but Batica is suggesting Arsenal merely had a change of heart at the last minute.

“Benfica fought until the last minute to sign Campbell but the move didn’t happen because, in the last hour, Arsenal decided to keep him. Wenger says he did not want to sell him. But if he is not in his plans, then why not allow him to leave?”  .......Read more here.....

Various reports are suggesting Arsenal forward Joel Campbell could be joining Portuguese Liga side Benfica this summer, with the player’s agent reportedly in talks with the club over a deal.

It’s a surprise as the Costa Rica attacker shone while on loan with Olympiakos last season, in this summer’s World Cup with the South American outfit, and as Arsenal having two strikers still currently sidelined with injury.

So Wenger will surely be procuring another striker before the transfer window shuts? He’s been typically coy on any movement for a Giroud replacement so far, but the Londoners will be short up front if Campbell is allowed to leave.  .......Read more here.....

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was full of praise for his summer recruit Alexis Sanchez after the Chilean played in their Emirates cup defeat to AS Monaco, playing more than 70 minutes against the French side.

“Alexis was quite sharp – one of the sharpest because he was mobile and he made some good runs. Overall, I’m happy with his start,” he said.

He also played in a previous friendly against Portugese Liga champions Benfica, coming off the bench in Saturday’s game.  .......Read more here.....